Arafat invites Ghaddafi for prayer in Jerusalem

The Libyan news agency JANA said on Sunday that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat invited Libyan President Col. Moammar Gaddafi during their meeting on Saturday in Blida city to be the Imam of the Muslims in prayers to be held in East Jerusalem when it becomes the capital of the Palestinian state. The agency said that Gaddafi accepted the invitation.

Arafat arrived in Libya earlier in the day on a two-day visit to congratulate Gaddafi on the successful hip surgery the latter recently underwent.

Palestinian officials have indicated that they will announce officially next year the formation of a Palestinian state.

Libyan sources said, "Arafat presented the invitation that was accepted by Gaaddafi" during his first visit to Libya in six years. Arafat headed from Libya to China where he arrived today for talks with Chinese official on bilateral relations and seeking support for the Middle East peace process.